No abstract

Rotaviruses infect humans and animals and are classified into eight groups (A to H). Group D rotavirus (RVD) has been described in birds, although relatively few reports are available. The present study focused on RVD, including epidemiological and molecular aspects of samples collected from broiler chickens in the state of Pará, Brazil. A total of 85 faecal samples were collected between 2008 and 2011 from 37 chicken farms located in eight different municipalities. The viral double-stranded RNA was extracted from faecal suspensions and analysed using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), followed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nucleotide sequencing of the VP6 and VP7 genes. Comparing the positive results, 16.5% (14/85) were obtained by PAGE and 35.3% (30/85) by RT-PCR. Samples from seven of eight municipalities were positive for RVD and infections were recorded in 17 (45.9%) of 37 chicken farms. The RVD infection rate was significantly higher in the 16-day to 30-day age group (62.2%; 23/37) compared with other ages. No consistent relationship was found between the infection rate and either the population density in poultry houses or the climatic conditions. The nucleotide sequences of the VP6 gene were 89.9 to 90.9% similar to the prototype strain 05V0049 and were 88.3 to 100% similar among themselves; VP7 gene nucleotide sequences were 84.3 to 85.4% similar to the prototype strain 05V0049 and 93.8 to 100% similar among themselves. Overall, this study provides new insights into the epidemiology and genome characterization of group D rotaviruses.

Enteric viruses cause avian diseases that result in economic losses. Avian Rotavirus (AvRV) is the most important virus associated with enteritis in poultry. The main goals of this study were to determine the prevalence of AvRV using molecular tests in broiler chickens (Gallus gallus) from the metropolitan mesoregion of Belém (Pará State, Brazil), to provide epidemiological information, and to compare the rotaviruses detected in this study with reference to strains by phylogenetic analysis. Pooled fecal samples were collected from 37 poultry farms. The samples were tested for the NSP4 gene using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In total, 35 (41.2%) of the 85 fecal samples were positive for NSP4. There were 19 (51.4%) farms with at least one poultry house positive for AvRV. Considering the distribution of positive samples by age, the chicks aged 31-45 days comprised 18 (51.4%) of the 35 rotavirus-positive samples. Analyzing the data by density population, the houses with more than 9 birds/m 2 had 25 (86.2%) positive samples, showing that higher infection rates occurred in higher density houses. To confirm the RT-PCR results and perform phylogenetic analysis, 20 positive samples were selected for sequencing. The rotaviruses detected in our study were clustered in a single group and had 93.5 to 100% sequence identity at the nucleotide level. The most affected age group included broiler chickens older than 15 days. Climatic conditions and high population densities favored the spread of AvRV and supported its uniform maintenance between seasons.

Com o objetivo de verificar a ocorrência de Campylobacter em granjas e abatedouro avícolas, foram coletadas, em três granjas avícolas, 120 amostras de swab cloacal (n=30), de cama de frango (n=30), de ração (n=30) e de água dos bebedouros (n=30). Também colheram-se, em um abatedouro, 126 amostras de água (n=36), de pele do conjunto peito/pescoço (n=30), de fígado (n=30) e de moela (n=30). Isolou-se Campylobacter em 40 (33,3%) amostras das granjas. Em análise das frequências dos isolados de Campylobacter nas granjas, observou-se que 29 (96,6%) amostras de swab cloacal, dez (33,3%) amostras de cama e uma (3,3%) amostra de água foram positivas para Campylobacter. Identifiou-se Campylobacter jejuni em 33 (82,5%) cepas isoladas nas granjas. No abatedouro, as onze (8,73%) cepas isoladas foram identificadas como C. jejuni. Em análise das frequências dos isolados de C. jejuni no abatedouro, observou-se que dez (27,8%) amostras de água provenientes da calha de evisceração foram positivas para C. jejuni, seguida pela moela, com uma (3,3%) amostra positiva. As principais fontes de contaminação nas granjas foram as fezes, a cama e, em menor escala, a água. Os principais pontos críticos observados no abatedouro foram a água proveniente da calha de evisceração, seguida pela moela coletada no minitanque de resfriamento.